Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Countdown to GTA 6
  • Join our monthly RPG Club
  • Game of the Week
  • G+RLS Podcast
  • GTA 6
  • Best gaming tech
  • RPG Hub
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
GamesRadar+'s weekly hardware digest

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more from the team at GamesRadar+.


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Hardware
  2. Retro
  3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Is this the worst frame-rate in any game ever?

Features
By Justin Towell
Published 3 July 2012

It's like Skyrim, only really jerky. Like PS3 Skyrim then...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Sometimes, we're shocked by how bad old games often are. But it takes a special kind of bad to be this bad. This is Virtual Hydlide, the 1995 3D sequel to an ancient NES and MSX game that nobody remembers. It was bad at the time. Now, it's absolutely shocking. Just look at the poor old Sega Saturn attempting to render a forest of flat trees, flat ground AND a castle. Ready for 5fps action?

It's a well-known fact that the way to get the best performance out of a Sega Saturn was to write code specifically addressing the two different processors inside the machine, usually sending 2D graphics to one and 3D to the other. I have a sneaky suspicion that the code here was written to directly address the processor of a ColecoVision. In another room. Via sign language sent as polaroids... by second-class post.

Bear in mind that this game would have retailed for £50 when it was new. Have you seen any full-price retail games with worse frame-rates than this? And no, PS3 Skyrim doesn't count. I challenge you to find one... then let us know in the comments.

Latest Videos FromGamesRadar+
Watch full video here:
GamesRadar+'s weekly hardware digest

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more from the team at GamesRadar+.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming PlayStation Xbox Platforms
Justin Towell
Justin Towell
Social Links Navigation
Freelance Writer

Justin was a GamesRadar+ staffer for 10 years but is now a freelance writer, musician and videographer. He's big on retro, Sega and racing games (especially retro Sega racing games) and currently also writes for Play Magazine, Traxion.gg, PC Gamer and TopTenReviews, as well as running his own YouTube channel. Having learned to love all platforms equally after Sega left the hardware industry (sniff), his favourite games include Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams, Zelda BotW, Sea of Thieves, Sega Rally Championship and Treasure Island Dizzy.

Read more
Screenshot of Mario 64 for 3DO featuring Peach's Castle Courtyard and Mario sprite facing the camera.
Retro "This shouldn't work": Super Mario 64 now runs on the most expensive console of the '90s, and it's even "sort of" functional
 
 
Close up of improved Mario spite in Super Mario 64 for 3DO with character standing in front of painting.
Retro "Mario looks like Mario now" - One week later, the cursed plumber in Super Mario 64 for 3DO has been cured
 
 
Players fishing and chopping wood in a forest in RuneScape: Dragonwilds
Survival Games RuneScape: Dragonwilds has gathered its ingredients but still lacks flavor
 
 
Mortal Shell 2 shell in dark iron armor
Action RPGs The worst experience I've had with a game all year: Bugs in Mortal Shell 2 nearly killed it for me
 
 
An Argonian character in armour standing in front of a ship in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered for Nintendo Switch 2
The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered on Switch 2 is a miracle port – and a reminder the RPG still isn't fixed
 
 
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
RPGs Fallout co-creator Tim Cain says Morrowind on Xbox changed everything for console RPGs
 
 
Latest in Retro
Neo Geo AES+ with gameplay footage from trailer blurred in backdrop.
Retro The Neo Geo AES+ almost didn't happen thanks to AI, but a chip workaround saved the day
 
 
Yoniq Portal PS2 handheld in front of blurred PS2 games on shelf.
Retro If you wish the PlayStation Portal looked more like a PS2 controller, this handheld has you covered
 
 
Face down view of Evercade Dual Thumbstick Wireless controller on woodgrain desk.
Retro Evercade Dual Thumbstick Wireless Controller review
 
 
Close up of G'AIM'E Time Crisis Lightgun AI-powered camera lens on woodgrain table.
Retro G'AIM'E is back with new Time Crisis Lightgun prototypes at Tokyo Game Show that ditch AI for gyro
 
 
Kirby and the World Beyond
Kirby Smash Bros creator warns "an industry that loses its originality will simply die a slow death"
 
 
Three Traveller ULW10 with member of Unico team interacting with buttons.
Retro Peeking inside the Unico's faux CRT TV has put some of my fears to rest, but the lag is absurd
 
 
Latest in Features
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto Modding GTA 6 sounds illegal in Rockstar's guidelines, but that's never stopped modders before
 
 
The player character, shirtless with armor only on their shoulders, stands in front of a banner in Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember
Action RPGs I'm taking off my shirt to go nunchuck mode in Team Ninja's unique blend of Sekiro and Dynasty Warriors
 
 
Posing with an anima that looks like a horse in Honkai Nexus Anima
RPGs Genshin Impact studio's new Pokemon-like has some of the best creature designs I've ever seen
 
 
Key art showing the core cast of Nighthawks, most of them vampires: Inez, Maze, Madame Lux, Agatha, and human detective Domino
RPGs Nighthawks is a vampire RPG that delivers what Bloodlines 2 failed to accomplish in its first 5 minutes
 
 
Players fishing and chopping wood in a forest in RuneScape: Dragonwilds
Survival Games RuneScape: Dragonwilds has gathered its ingredients but still lacks flavor
 
 
The player character in Dune Awakening, during a story mode cutscene
Survival Games Dune Awakening is slick on PS5, but it's still a Paul of all trades rather than a survival messiah
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. GTA 6
    1
    GTA 6's $1 million billboard goes up despite protests from local police as Rockstar's real-life Miami takeover gets underway
  2. 2
    Blizzard confirms StarCraft "won't be exclusive" to Xbox and refuses to elaborate
  3. 3
    Halo cinematic director "promoted and laid off in the same week" as Microsoft continues sweeping Xbox layoffs
  4. 4
    Wardogs price will increase throughout Steam early access, and "if you don't agree with that, please don't buy it," CEO says
  5. 5
    First Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2 teases a bloodbath ahead of what looks to be another action-packed season

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...